Swedes have excellent English skills, according to a unique study by educational company EF. But Norwegians and Danes have even better.

The EF English Proficiency Index -- the first of its kind to rank English language proficiency -- pulled its results from more than two million people in 44 different countries who took a free online English test between 2007 and 2009.

Norwegians were ranked as having the world's best English skills as a second language, followed by the Dutch and Danes. Swedes came in at number four, ahead of the Finns, according to the EF EPI.

“People from small Nordic countries are motivated to learn English at a high level because they known that English language proficiency is essential for their professional careers. That may be the only way to survive in the global economy and find economic success outside of their borders", Eva Kockum, President of EF International Language Centers, told Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

Founded in 1965, Stockholm-based EF is the world's largest private educational company.